Protective effect of paeoniflori on rats with acute pancreatitis with lung injury and its effect on nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effect of paeoniflorin on acute pancreatitis with lung injury and its effect on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=26 each): the sham operation group, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group, and the paeoniflorin group. After the model of ASP was established, the serum amylase (AMY), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The NF-κB mRNA expression level was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR), and the wet/dry ratio and pathological changes of lung tissue were measured and compared. Results The expression level of AMY [(4 267±1 459), (2 681±822) vs. (1 482±5 240) U/L] in peripheral blood, MPO [(5.47±1.28), (4.39±0.57) vs. (2.17±0.37) U/g] in the lung, and the wet/dry ratio (5.13±0.62, 4.54±0.34 vs. 4.41±0.21) in the lung tissue in SAP group and the paeoniflorin group were significantly higher than in the sham operation group at 6 h after the operation, and the changes were even more significant in 12 h sub-groups. Pathological score of pancrea tissue (7.44±1.57 vs. 11.30±2.27, P=0.021) and lung tissue (0.83±0.82 vs. 1.47±1.31, P=0.029), aortic blood TNF-α [(83.44±15.28) vs. (120.05±25.88) ng/L, P=0.042], IL-1β [(46.33±10.03) vs. (84.75±17.83) ng/L, P=0.036], IL-6 [(72.77±18.51) vs. (92.81±19.92) ng/L, P=0.046] protein levels and NF-κB mRNA in paeoniflorin group were significantly lower than in SAP group 12 h after the operation (P=0.002). Conclusion Peoniflorin may have the positive protection on lung injury in SAP through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and thus reducing the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Key words: Peoniflorin; Severe acute pancreatitis; Lung injury; Inflammation